Water vessel using self-propelled water wheel

ABSTRACT

A water toy includes a pair of floatable hulls arranged in spaced apart orientation in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the toy. A water wheel support is coupled to the hulls and has inner sides positioned on either side of the water wheel. A water wheel axel spans laterally between the inner sides and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of which the hulls are oriented. A water wheel is mounted on the axel and rotates forwardly about a rotating axis such that lower paddles of the water wheel dip into the body of water forwardly of the axel and push rearwardly as the water wheel rotates to thereby propel the water toy forwardly through the water. A water container is mounted above the water wheel and provides fluid through an aperture to the water wheel to thereby drive the paddles of the water wheel about the rotating axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a toy, and more particularly to a water wheel-based toy that moves along the water surface by action of a self-contained water supply falling against and turning a water wheel.

Self-propelled water toys typically include some type of mechanism to propel the toy through or under the water. Some use chemical agents, some electrical propulsion such as with batteries, and some convert potential energy to mechanical energy such as a wound rubber-band turning a propeller or impeller. Some examples of underwater toys include U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,023 to Warner titled “Hand Launchable Hydrodynamic Recreational Vehicle,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,577 to Thorne, III titled “Underwater Device and Method of Play,” (hereinafter Thorne). Such devices have drawbacks such as increased weight due to neutral buoyancy, thus increasing shipping costs, or decreased ability to remain upright within the water so that the device moves unrealistically compared to underwater sea creatures and submarines.

Water toys adapted to operate on the surface of the water also exist. Many of these operate by using gravity-fed jets of water that shoot out of the back of a floatable toy. One examples of these include U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,907 (Mumford), which teaches a double hulled water toy with a water container mounted between the hulls. A rearward-facing discharge tube from the water container imparts a forward reaction which drives the boat through the water. An improved design, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,277, uses a similar propulsion system with a rearward-facing nozzle that can be rotated in a horizontal plane so that the toy may be propelled in any desired direction. It would be useful, however, to include motion elements within the toy as it moves through the water in order to make the toy more interesting to play with.

Accordingly, the need arises for a water toy that takes a different approach to these problems and for overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention comprises a floatable toy having two hulls. A container for water mounted within the toy above the hulls and includes a discharge outlet at or near the bottom thereof. The container maintained at all times clear of the surface of water on which said toy floats even when said container is filled with water. A water wheel is rotatably positioned between the hulls on a rotating axis and below the water container. A lower portion of the water wheel extends below a water line when the toy is floated on the water, wherein water drops through the discharge outlet onto the water wheel and rotates the wheel through the water to thereby propel the body through the water.

In another aspect of the invention, the self-propelled water toy comprises a floatable vehicle body and propulsion means mounted to the vehicle body. The propulsion means are configured to propel the floatable vehicle body through water responsive to the physical flow under gravity of a fluid, stored within the floatable vehicle body, against the propulsion means and thence to the body of water.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the floatable water toy comprises a body having a lower portion configured to remain substantially submerged within water and an upper portion. A water wheel is installed along a rotating axis within the upper portion of the body such that at least a lower portion of the water wheel extends below a water line when the body is floated within water. A container of water is positioned within the upper portion of the body above at least an upper portion of the water wheel and having a discharge outlet defined at or near a bottom thereof such that water discharged from the outlet falls onto the water wheel and turns the water wheel about the rotating axis, wherein rotation of the water wheel causes propulsion of the body through the water in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-propelled water toy constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in section of the self-propelled water toy of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the water toy 10, comprised generally of a floatable vehicle body 12 and a propulsion means 14 characterized by a water wheel 16 powered by a self-contained water source 18. As will be appreciated from a description of the invention below, water from the water source 18 empties onto and thereby turns the water wheel to thereby propel the toy through a body of water.

The vehicle body 12 preferable includes a pair of floatable hulls 20 a, 20 b arranged in spaced apart orientation. The hulls 20 a, 20 b are further arranged in a general longitudinal direction relative to the toy 10 so that long axes of the hulls point forwardly 22 in the direction of travel.

Water wheel supports 24 a, 24 b are coupled to respective ones of the hulls 20 a, 20 b and are positioned on either side of the water wheel 16. A water wheel axel 26 spans laterally between inner sides 28 a, 28 b of the supports 24 a, 24 b along a rotational axis 30—that is, perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 22 of which the hulls 20 a, 20 b are oriented. The axel 26 passes through the supports 24 a, 24 b and is fixed at each peripheral end to outsides of the supports using washers, nuts or the like 31.

The water wheel 16 is mounted on the axel 26 and rotates forwardly 32 about the rotating axis 30 under action of water falling onto it as from the self-contained water source 18. A plurality of paddles, such as paddle 34, are spaced about a periphery of the water wheel 16 and rotate the wheel 16 by action of water pooling above the paddles and driving them downward under force of gravity.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side section view of the water toy of FIG. 1 in action within a body of water 33. Water or other fluid 35 is maintained within a water source 18, here shown as a container 36. Container 36 is positioned within an upper portion of the vehicle body 12 above at least an upper portion of the water wheel 16. A discharge outlet 38 is defined at or near a bottom of the container 36 such that water 35 discharged from the outlet falls onto the water wheel 16 and turns it about its rotating axis 30.

Although the paddles 34 of the water wheel 16 can be formed of straight panels or bucket-shaped, the preferred implementation as shown includes both a planar peripheral portion 40 and a bucket portion 42. Planar peripheral portion 40 provides a pushing surface adapted to impart a forward reaction to the water toy when the paddles enter the body of water 33. Bucket portion 42 are asymmetrically shaped to retain water within the bucket as the paddles 34 of the water wheel 16 rotate forwardly 32 into the water 33 and shed water as the paddles exit the body of water.

As illustrated within FIG. 2, water 35 falling from container 36 pools against a solid inner wheel 41 and bucket portion 42. The now-weighted bucket portion drives paddle 34 about the water wheel axel 26 under force of gravity. As the paddle 34 rotates downward, the bucket portion opens up to the body of water to thereby empty the contents of the bucket—e.g. paddle 34 a. The paddle 34 a then drives backward through the water, causing a pushing action 44 that forces water backward and, conversely, moves the floating body 10 forward 22. The paddle 34 b then emerges from the water 33 as the water wheel 16 continues to rotate. As emerging paddles have shed all of their water, they are lighter than the filled paddles 34 and 34 a. This differential in weights causes the water wheel 16 to undergo continued rotation so long as water 35 remains within the container 36.

The water toy 10 is weighted so that the water wheel axel 26 remains above the water line of body 33, but that a lower portion extends below the water line when the toy is floated on the body of water 33. It is understood that the water toy is heavier, and thus sits lower in the water, when the container 36 is completely filled with water. Conversely, it is understood that the water toy is lighter, and thus sits higher in the water, when the container 36 is empty. Appropriate materials can be selected, or the hulls 20 a, 20 b weighted, so that the toy 10 sits within the body of water 33 whereby (a) the container 36 is completely clear of the surface of the water and that (b) the lower portion of the water wheel—meaning at least one or more paddles 34 of the wheel—is able to enter the water when the container is substantially empty so that the paddles continue to propel the toy through the water. In this way, the propulsion means 14 is configured to propel the floatable vehicle body 12 through the water 33 responsive to the physical flow under gravity of a fluid (e.g. water), stored within the floatable vehicle body (as in container 36), against the propulsion means and thence to the body of water.

In use, one would simple need to dip the toy into the water in order to “recharge” it by filling the container 36. Once set upright in the water, the toy 10 would propel itself through the water. Water used simply empties itself back in to the tub or water. Once empty, the container 36 can be easily refilled and the toy again released.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. I claim all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A self-propelled water toy for use within a body of water, comprising: a floatable vehicle body; and propulsion means mounted to said vehicle body and configured to propel the floatable vehicle body through water responsive to the physical flow under gravity of a fluid, stored within the floatable vehicle body, against the propulsion means and thence to the body of water.
 2. The water toy of claim 1, wherein the propulsion means includes a water wheel rotatably positioned on said floatable vehicle body below the fluid stored within the floatable vehicle body and having a lower portion extending below a water line when the toy is floated on the body of water, wherein fluid drops onto the water wheel and rotates the wheel through the water to thereby propel the floatable vehicle body through the body of water.
 3. The water toy of claim 2, wherein the floatable vehicle body includes: a pair of floatable hulls arranged in spaced apart orientation in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the toy; a water wheel support coupled to the hulls and having inner sides positioned on either side of the water wheel; and a water wheel axel spanning laterally between the inner sides, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of which the hulls are oriented, wherein the water wheel is mounted on the axel and rotates forwardly about a rotating axis such that lower paddles of the water wheel dip into the body of water forwardly of the axel and push rearwardly as the water wheel rotates to thereby propel the water toy forwardly through the water.
 4. The water toy of claim 3, further comprising a container of water positioned above the axel and having a discharge outlet defined at or near a bottom thereof such that water discharged from the outlet falls onto the water wheel and turns the water wheel about the rotating axis, wherein rotation of the water wheel causes propulsion of the body through the water in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis.
 5. The water toy of claim 4, wherein the container is centered above the rotating axis of the water wheel.
 6. The water toy of claim 4, wherein the water wheel includes a plurality of paddles spaced about a periphery of the water wheel, wherein each of the paddles includes: a planar peripheral portion adapted to impart a forward reaction to the water toy when the paddles enter the body of water; and a bucket portion asymmetrically shaped to retain water within the bucket as the paddles of the water wheel rotates forwardly into the water and shed water as the paddles of the water wheel exit the body of water.
 7. A floatable water toy, comprising: a body having a lower portion configured to remain substantially submerged within water and an upper portion; a water wheel installed along a rotating axis within the upper portion of the body such that at least a lower portion of the water wheel extends below a water line when the body is floated within water; a container of water positioned within the upper portion of the body above at least an upper portion of the water wheel and having a discharge outlet defined at or near a bottom thereof such that water discharged from the outlet falls onto the water wheel and turns the water wheel about the rotating axis, wherein rotation of the water wheel causes propulsion of the body through the water in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis.
 8. The water toy of claim 7, wherein the container is centered above the rotating axis of the water wheel.
 9. The water toy of claim 7, wherein the water wheel includes a plurality of paddles spaced about a periphery of the water wheel, wherein each of the paddles includes: a planar peripheral portion adapted to impart a forward reaction to the water toy when the paddles enter the body of water; and a bucket portion asymmetrically shaped to retain water within the bucket as the paddles of the water wheel rotates forwardly into the water and shed water as the paddles of the water wheel exit the body of water.
 10. A floatable toy and adapted to float on water, comprising: two hulls; a container for water and means mounting said container on and between said hulls; a discharge outlet connected to said container at or near the bottom thereof; said mounting means being constructed and arranged to maintain said container at all times clear of the surface of water on which said toy floats even when said container is filled with water; and a water wheel rotatably positioned between said hulls on a rotating axis and below said container and having a lower portion extending below a water line when the toy is floated on the water, wherein water drops through the discharge outlet onto the water wheel and rotates the wheel through the water to thereby propel the body through the water.
 11. The water toy of claim 10, wherein the container is centered above the rotating axis of the water wheel.
 12. The water toy of claim 10, wherein the water wheel includes a plurality of paddles spaced about a periphery of the water wheel, wherein each of the paddles includes: a planar peripheral portion adapted to impart a forward reaction to the water toy when the paddles enter the body of water; and a bucket portion asymmetrically shaped to retain water within the bucket as the paddles of the water wheel rotates forwardly into the water and shed water as the paddles of the water wheel exit the body of water. 